Friday, March 29, 2024

Making Their Marq: A Special Thank You to Our Summer Volunteers

The Marq Southlake opened its doors to volunteers once again on June 1, 2021, and service-minded individuals heeded the call!

The Community Services Department had exceptional youth volunteerism this summer. Our volunteers play a vital role in our mission to create life-long memories. From assisting seniors at the Senior Activity Center, keeping Champions Club in tip-top shape, to ensuring Nature Camp and Camp Mania campers had a summer to remember, our volunteers stepped up to the plate!

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community while learning crucial life skills. Marq volunteers experienced what it takes to keep facilities like the Senior Center and Champions Club operating at the highest level to ensure world-class service and member satisfaction. From facilitating weekly luncheons at the Senior Center to helping with birthday parties and member appreciation events at Champions Club, our youth volunteers gained valuable customer service skills.

The Marq was not the only place where volunteers made a difference this summer. Outstanding Camp Mania and Nature Camp volunteers worked an average of 40 hours each to ensure our summer camps were safe and fun for all camp participants. Gaining important programing and childcare experience, our volunteers were vital to our camps’ success every year!
The impact our volunteers had cannot be overstated. This summer, our volunteers served more than 200 hours at the Senior Activity Center, more than 280 hours at Champions Club, and over 1,300 hours at summer camp!

Here’s what some of our volunteer liaisons had to say:

“Through the dedication, willingness, and care of our volunteers, the Senior Activity Center was able to continue its exceptional programming without interruptions. We depend on our volunteers’ creativity and helping hands to enhance the experience of our seniors at the Senior Center.” —Soheila Phelps, Senior Services Coordinator.

“Volunteering for any program is a privilege. Each camp volunteer made an impact and positive connection to all of our campers, counselors and parents. I appreciate all the hard work. They enjoyed swimming, ice cream, snow cones, and bounce houses. But the most important thing is they enjoyed the service and gave back to their community. This community is special thanks to our camp volunteers.” —Gretchen Morgan, Programs Coordinator.

Thank you so much to our wonderful volunteers! We can’t wait to see you again! Learn how to volunteer with us here!

City of Southlake Honors Volunteers for Their Service

Volunteering is one of the most fulfilling ways you can serve your community. It is an opportunity to make an impact for those around you by using your energy and talents to benefit others. Volunteers help their neighbors, serve their communities and use their unique skills and experience.

In Southlake, volunteers serve in many different capacities and provide meaningful contributions across the organization.  You’ll often find volunteers helping shelve books in the library, assisting with programs at the Senior Activity Center, serving as teen attorneys for teen court, or checking on businesses in Town Square. They provide valuable assistance in public safety, at special events and even as interns.  Board and Commission members also serve as volunteers as do the Mayor and City Council.

Over the last 12 months, the City was fortunate to have more than 3,000 volunteers selflessly give nearly 30,000 hours of service to the Southlake community. According to the Independent Sector, these hours provide a value of more than $750,000.

“Our volunteers are the heart of Southlake,” Volunteer Coordinator Lindy Calzada said. “They are often our first point of contact to the public, and provide insight, feedback and information that helps us make this great community possible. We’re honored that our volunteers would team up with us and appreciate all of their hard work and dedication to Southlake.”

Each year, the City takes a moment to recognize those volunteers who regularly serve and reach service milestones. Awards are given in several categories, as shown below to show appreciation for their dedication to the City. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, we were unable to celebrate in person this year.  However, their contributions are significant and deserve recognition.

Congratulations to each of the below recipients. We appreciate and are thankful for their contributions. 

Junior Service Award – This award honors the junior volunteer who served the most hours in the last 12 months.

Emily Jia

Adult Service Award – This award honors the adult volunteer who served the most hours in the last 12 months.

Ken Stewart

Milestone Service Awards – This award is presented to volunteers for their lifetime hours of service with the City of Southlake.

2,500 hours: Ken Stewart

                2,000 hours: Leroy McCall and Ken Stone

                1,500 hours: Patti Brayton, Reza Saffarian and Jim Shirey

1,000 hours: Joan Houle

500 hours: Ed Grondahl, Jeffrey Ng, Krystal Porter, Deep Rajani

Presidential Service Award Recipients – This award is presented to volunteers who reach annual service milestones within their age group as established by the Points of Light Foundation. Honorees receive a personal certificate and a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States.

Gold Level Recipients: Dhyan Patel, Deep Rajani and Ken Stewart

Silver Level Recipients: Wayne Berryman, Yoselin Lugo, Tom Moore, Jeffrey Ng, Reza Saffarian, Iris Schmeder and Yi Zhang

Bronze Level Recipients: Vance Amos, Sarah Armstrong, Samantha Blake, Patti   Brayton, Alaina Dang, Ed Grondahl, Lauren Olivia Hall, Benjamin Hargrave, Jacob Herman, Joan Houle, Emily Jia, Marge Kyle, Camila Larrazabal, Winema Martinez, Leroy McCall, Karen Mertz, Pamela Muller, Krystal Porter, Jim Shirey, Sydney Stellato, Ken Stone, Sofia Tangirala, Molly Trinh and Logan Woosley